Cedar Rapids Xavier finds a way to finish and upend Indianola in Class 4A football playoffs

CEDAR RAPIDS — It’s not how you start, but how you finish.

Cedar Rapids Xavier found a way to finish and advance.

Ronan Thomas hit Quinn Oleson with a 3-yard pop pass with 31 seconds remaining and the duo connected again for a 2-point conversion that led the second-ranked Saints to a 17-10 victory over No. 7 Indianola in a Class 4A football playoff game Friday night at Saints Field. Xavier moves on to the quarterfinals against No. 4 North Polk at Alleman next Friday.

Xavier Coach Duane Schulte conjured up the perfect cliché for the thriller.

“Don’t ever give up,” Schulte said. “They never gave up. That’s all I can say.”

Xavier’s game-winning drive started on its own 27 with 2:28 remaining. The series started with an incompletion, intentional grounding call and unsportsmanlike penalty. On fourth-and-26 from their 10, Thomas rolled right and hit Carter Hoffman for a 37-yard gain, giving the Saints new life.

“Carter made a really smart play,” Thomas said. “All the defensive guys were going deep. He sat by the sticks and was wide open, so it was a great job by him.”

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Photos: Cedar Rapids Xavier vs. Indianola in Class 4A playoffs

Thomas rushed two more times for 39 yards and completed two passes to Adam Cook to set up the go-ahead score.

The pop pass was something implemented during weekly practice. Coaches said it might be open. Thomas and Oleson read and reacted.

“We were expecting that to be there, but a lot of other stuff, too,” said Oleson, admitting that it seemed like it played out in slow motion. “He kind of floated it up there, so it made it seemed even more in slow motion.

“I kind of tripped at the beginning. I got past the linebacker and he put it up where he needed to and I caught it.”

Oleson had a catch in the end zone ruled incomplete earlier. He has also overcome injury this season, but it was all worth it for his first varsity TD catch and 2-point conversion.

“It feels great,” Oleson said. “The best part is when you come off the sideline and see all your brothers. That’s what makes it worth it, seeing every single one of those guys celebrate with you.”

Actually, the Saints struggled to finish drives throughout the game. They weren’t able to reach the end zone in their first eight possessions, managing just one score through three quarters — a 35-yard field goal on the first offensive drive.

Xavier scored twice in the final 4:25 to salvage victory and end Indianola’s season here for the second straight season. Schulte wasn’t sure what changed late.

“I don’t know if I have an answer for that other than our guys just made plays,” Schulte said. “We install stuff every week. You see if you need it. Tonight, we needed plays, formations and guys to do their job. They just did their job. They just found a way to win.”

Thomas capped a 42-yard drive with a 1-yard TD plunge after his 35-yard pass to Coleton Beasler-Weber set up first-and-goal from the 5.

“We all got a little bit of confidence when we started driving down the field and that goes a long way,” Thomas said. “All the boys were going hard the whole time but when you get a little extra it makes it easier.”

Cook added to the firsts. His first interception sealed the victory and ended the final drive for Indianola (6-4).

“It was a great feeling,” Cook said. “I’ve never had a pick before in my high school career.”

Noah Schimberg was a force in the backfield. He helped Xavier move the ball downfield throughout the game. Schimberg rushed for 135 yards on 22 carries.

“He has a tough genetic background,” Schulte said of Schimberg, whose dad, David, was a standout for Cedar Rapids Regis. “He’s got a heart the size of this field and that is who he is.”

Many things seemed to go against the Saints. A touchdown run by Schimberg was called back, Indianola’s Aiden Keller made a 45-yard field goal that hit the crossbar and bounced over, while Xavier’s first extra-point attempt hit the right upright and bounced out. Another field goal was blocked.

“There was never a time we didn’t think it wasn’t in the cards,” Thomas said. “There were some unfortunate things that didn’t go our way.

“As a whole, we kept our heads up and that helped us get through the rest of the game.”

The defending state champions will hit the road for a fourth straight trip to the semifinals. North Polk is ranked fourth with an 8-2 record.

Cedar Rapids Xavier 17, Indianola 10

AT SAINTS FIELD

IND CRX

First Downs 8 12

Rushes-yards 30-134 36-191

Passing yards 92 162

Comp-att-int 8-14-1 11-24-1

Total yards 216 353

Fumbles-lost 3-1 2-0

Punts-avg. 6-33.0 2-33.0

Penalties-yards 9-79 9-57

Indianola 7 3 0 0 -- 10

C.R. Xavier 3 0 0 14 -- 17

CRX – FG Logan Cox 35

IND – Gavin Darling 17 pass from Andrew DeWall (Aiden Keller kick)

IND – FG Keller 45

CRX – Ronan Thomas 1 run (kick failed)

CRX – Quinn Oleson 3 pass from Thomas (Thomas pass to Oleson)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Indianola: Jake Pontier 21-90, DeWall 8-38, Team 1-6. C.R. Xavier: Noah Schimberg 22-135, Thomas 9-46, Grant Helmle 2-6, Adam Cook 2-6, Team 1-(-2).

PASSING – Indianola: DeWall 8-14-1-92. C.R. Xavier: Thomas 11-24-1-162.

RECEIVING – Indianola: Jonce Hale 2-53, Darling 2-18, Pontier 2-1, Gabby King 1-11, Eli Fox 1-9. C.R. Xavier: Jack Stevenson 1-48, Coleton Beasler-Weber 2-44, Carter Hoffmann 2-34, Cook 3-22, Schimberg 1-12, Oleson 1-3, Grant Helmle 1-(-1).

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com